Computer readable storage media for tiered connection pooling and methods and systems for utilizing same

Abstract

Systems and methods for tiered connection pooling are disclosed herein. An example system may include a memory encoded with computer executable instructions that when executed cause a processing unit to receive a request to access a resource; determine whether a used authenticated connection is available; if the used authenticated connection is available, fulfill the request using the used authenticated connection; if the used authenticated connection is not available, determine whether a first unused authenticated connection is available; if the first unused authenticated connection is available, fulfill the request use the first unused authenticated connection; if the first unused authenticated connection is not available, determine whether a first unauthenticated connection is available; if the first unauthenticated connection is not available, establish a second unauthenticated connection with the resource; authenticate the second unauthenticated connection to provide a second unused authenticated connection; and fulfill the request using the second unused authenticated connection.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer hardware system comprising at least one processing unit coupled to a memory, wherein the memory is encoded with computer executable instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to: receive a request from a user device to access a resource, the resource requiring authentication for access; determine whether a previously used authenticated connection is available, wherein a previously used connection is a connection that has previously been used to fulfill a request provided by the user device enabling data associated with the previously fulfilled request to be buffered and more readily available to fulfill a subsequent request; if the previously used authenticated connection is available, fulfill the request using the previously used authenticated connection; if the previously used authenticated connection is not available, determine whether a first unused authenticated connection is available; if the first unused authenticated connection is available, fulfill the request using the first unused authenticated connection; if the first unused authenticated connection is not available, determine whether a first unauthenticated connection is available; if the first unauthenticated connection is not available, establish a second unauthenticated connection with the resource; authenticate the second unauthenticated connection to provide a second unused authenticated connection; and fulfill the request using the second unused authenticated connection. 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the resource comprises a database. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processing unit to:
 assign a plurality of unused authenticated connections to the user device, the plurality of unused authenticated connections including the first unused authenticated connection. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to authenticate the second unauthenticated connection to provide a second unused authenticated connection include instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to:
 remove the second unauthenticated connection from a connection pool associated with the resource. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to:
 authenticate a user associated with the user device. 
 
     
     
       6. A computer hardware system comprising at least one processing unit coupled to a memory, wherein the memory is encoded with computer executable instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to: receive a request from a user device to access a resource, the resource requiring authentication for access; determine whether an authenticated connection of a first type is available, wherein the authenticated connection of the first type is a previously used authenticated connection, and wherein a previously used connection is a connection that has previously been used to fulfill a request provided by the user device enabling data associated with the previously fulfilled request to be buffered and more readily available to fulfill a subsequent request;
 if the authenticated connection of the first type is available, fulfill the request using the authenticated connection of the first type; if the authenticated connection of the first type is not available, determine whether a first authenticated connection of a second type is available; if the first authenticated connection of the second type is available, fulfill the request using the authenticated connection of the second type; if the first authenticated connection of the second type is not available, authenticate an unauthenticated connection to provide a second authenticated connection of the second type; and fulfill the request using the second authenticated connection of the second type. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processing unit to:
 assign a plurality of authenticated connections of the second type to the user device. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the authenticated connection of the second type is an unused authenticated connection. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the resource comprises a database. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to determine whether an authenticated connection of a first type is available include instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to:
 determine whether the unauthenticated connection is available; and
 if the unauthenticated connection is not available, establish the unauthenticated connection with a resource. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to authenticate an unauthenticated connection to provide a second authenticated connection of the second type include instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to:
 remove the unauthenticated connection from a connection pool associated with the resource. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the instructions further include instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to:
 authenticate a user associated with the user device. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to fulfill the request using the second authenticated connection of the second type include instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to:
 designate the second authenticated connection of the second type as an authenticated connection of the first type. 
 
     
     
       14. A computer hardware system comprising at least one processing unit coupled to a memory, wherein the memory is encoded with computer executable instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to: identify a user associated with a user device using a connection engine; determine that a previously used authenticated connection is unavailable, wherein a previously used connection is a connection that has previously been used to fulfill a request provided by the user device enabling data associated with the previously fulfilled request to still be buffered and more readily available to fulfill the received request; remove a connection of a first type from a connection pool, the connection of the first type established between the connection engine and a resource, wherein the connection of a first type is an unauthenticated connection; authenticate the connection of the first type to provide a connection of a second type; and assign the connection of the second type to the user. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to identify a user associated with a user device include instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to:
 authenticate the user. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the connection of the second type is an authenticated connection. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the connection of the first type is a first connection of the first type, and wherein the instructions further include instructions that when executed cause the processor to:
 remove a second connection of the first type from the connection pool, the connection of the first type established between the connection engine and the resource. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to identify a user associated with a user device include instructions that when executed cause the at least one processing unit to:
 determine which of a plurality of resources the user may access.